Written Answers

Tuesday 4 July 2000

Scottish Executive

Children

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will set up an administration of medicines working group covering the needs of children under five or widen the remit of the existing group to cover children under five.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The guidance being developed by the Administration of Medicines in Schools Working Group will be relevant to all local authority school settings, including pre-school centres.

Employment

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total level of public sector employment was in each year for which figures are available, starting with the earliest possible year.

Henry McLeish: The number of employee jobs in the public sector industries since 1981 is shown in the table below. Figures include jobs in public administration, defence, education, and health related industries.

  Employee jobs in public sector industries, Scotland 1981-99

  


Year


Employee jobs 
(000)




1981


472




1982


471




1983


473




1984


473




1985


484




1986


490




1987


506




1988


524




1989


525




1990


527




1991


538




1992


532




1993


530




1994


539




1995


552




1996


559




1997


539




1998


555




1999


564




  Source: Office for National Statistics, employee jobs series.

  Note: December figures each year, seasonally unadjusted.

Employment

Nick Johnston (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6619 by Henry McLeish on 19 May 2000, how many of the 10,827 new jobs in Scotland announced by inward investors since April 1999 are brand new jobs; how many are jobs transferred from elsewhere; how many are part time; how many are full time, and how many of these (a) part-time and (b) full-time jobs are minimum wage jobs.

Henry McLeish: Since the member’s last question, (S1W-6619) Locate in Scotland (LiS) has published its annual results. The member will have received a copy of this document from LiS.

  From April 1999, LiS and its partners attracted 14,995 jobs and 4,339 safeguarded jobs. LiS’ projects tend to be new projects or expansions, rather than relocation of existing activities. Any straightforward transfer of jobs is taken in to account when calculating levels of financial assistance. Although some companies employ full-time and part-time staff, figures published by LiS refer to full-time equivalent jobs. LiS does not hold information on minimum wage jobs.

European Funding

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in the context of the European Commission’s Guidelines on National Region Aid, what criteria, including the methodology and quantitative indicators, have been used to determine the areas included on the revised Assisted Area map.

Henry McLeish: The Assisted Areas map is a reserved matter for the UK Government.

  The criteria used in proposing a new Assisted Areas map were set out in some detail in The Government’s Proposals for New Assisted Areas (URN 99/963), published 15 July 1999; and in Amendments to the Government’s Proposals for New Assisted Areas (URN 00/776), published 10 April 2000.

  Copies of these documents are held in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

European Funding

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what areas of lesser need than Arbroath have been included on the revised Assisted Area map.

Henry McLeish: The Assisted Areas map is a reserved matter for the UK Government.

  The Scottish Executive has worked closely with The Scotland Office and the Department of Trade & Industry on this matter. The proposed new Assisted Areas map provides extensive coverage for the Dundee Travel to Work Area of which Arbroath is a part. The rules and criteria used for drawing this map, together with the population ceiling set by the European Commission, meant that not all the areas which would have wished to be included, could be. However the proposed map strikes a good overall balance between areas of need in Scotland, and those areas with the potential to help meet that need.

European Funding

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the new proposals for the Assisted Area map will be submitted to the European Commission and when a response is expected.

Henry McLeish: The Assisted Areas map is a reserved matter for the UK Government.

  Proposals for a new Assisted Areas map are now under consideration by the European Commission. All concerned are seeking an early resolution of this matter.

European Funding

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the respective rankings of Orkney, Shetland and Arbroath are out of the 60 former Travel to Work areas in terms of unemployment and manufacturing dependency.

Henry McLeish: Latest claimant count unemployment rates published by the Office for National Statistics are for May 2000. These show that, of the 60 former Travel to Work areas, Orkney has the fourth lowest rate, Shetland has the 12th lowest rate and Arbroath has the fourth highest rate.

  Latest figures on employee jobs published by the Office for National Statistics are for 1998. These show that of the 60 former Travel to Work areas, Orkney has the 16th lowest proportion of total employees in manufacturing industries, Shetland has the 11th lowest proportion and Arbroath has the 10th highest proportion.

European Funding

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what changes to the Assisted Area map for Scotland, as proposed on 10 April 2000 the Scotland Office or the Department of Trade and Industry have notified it of and what comments it has made, or intends to make, on these changes.

Henry McLeish: The Assisted Areas map is a reserved matter for the UK Government.

  The Scottish Executive has been closely involved in discussions with The Scotland Office and the Department of Trade and Industry about the new Assisted Areas map, in respect of which revised proposals are now under consideration by the European Commission.

European Funding

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the timetable now is for finalising the boundaries for Regional Selective Assistance and what impact the delay will have on local businesses in Scotland.

Henry McLeish: The Assisted Areas map is a reserved matter for the UK Government.

  This matter is still under consideration by the European Commission and all concerned are seeking an early resolution.

  Applications for Regional Selective Assistance are continuing to be made by businesses, though any resultant offers of assistance are being made conditional on confirmation by the Commission of the new map. Thus the impact of delay has been significantly reduced.

Ferry Operations

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what tendering process is being used for the Northlink ferry contract and what measures it has in place to ensure that all tenders are afforded equal and fair consideration.

Sarah Boyack: The Executive has taken steps throughout to ensure equal and fair competition for the Northern Isles passenger ferry services contract. Bidders were shortlisted against agreed criteria, and invited to submit technical proposals and costed bids. We are now completing a process of evaluating the bids submitted against objective criteria which were made clear to all bidders when bids were invited. The bidding process complies with European legislation on state subsidies in the maritime sector, and with Scottish Executive Procurement procedures.

Ferry Operations

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when a decision is to be made with regard to the award of the Northlink ferry contract.

Sarah Boyack: Costed bids for the Northern Isles contract were received on 23 June, and a decision on preferred bidder status is planned for July.

Ferry Operations

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the number, value and size in tonnage and length of vessels to be included in the Northlink ferry contract.

Sarah Boyack: The Northern Isles Ferry contract will involve the payment of subsidies for the provision of lifeline ferry services to the Northern Isles. It will not be a contract for the purchase of vessels. Bids have been invited on the basis of a detailed specification setting out the standards of service required. This specification was finalised taking into account comments from Islands Councils, MSPs and other interested groups. The Executive has not insisted upon specific numbers, sizes or lengths of vessels, allowing bidders to use their commercial judgment in deciding the best way to meet the service requirements.

  The evaluation of bids is ongoing and the detail of the vessels to be used will be made known when the contract award is announced.

Finance

Elaine Thomson (Aberdeen North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what allocation it proposes to make from the central reserve towards health-related spending.

Mr Jack McConnell: At least £34 million will be allocated from the central reserve towards health-related spending. This includes £4.5 million towards health needs of the homeless previously announced and which was allocated from the reserve. An additional £10 million will be allocated to local authority social work departments to prevent delayed discharges from hospital that lead to bed-blocking. The remainder will also be allocated to health-related spending including drug treatment services and services for older people, and individual amounts and initiatives will be reported to Parliament over the coming weeks.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent the eco-system influences the framing of sea fisheries management policy by the Executive and in Europe; whether any developments are likely in this regard, and whether it is aware of any relevant research being undertaken on the link between sea fisheries management and the eco-system.

Mr John Home Robertson: The integration of fisheries and environment policies is being actively pursued within the European Union and the general principle of applying the Ecosystem approach to fisheries management is now widely accepted. The Scottish Executive supports moves to safeguard the sustainability of fish stocks and the marine environment. The recent establishment of a closed area for sandeel fishing off the east coast of Scotland is an example of the application of the Ecosystem approach.

  The FRS Marine Lab in Aberdeen has been engaged in a number of Ecosystem projects including the monitoring of biodiversity in the North Sea, the effects of large-scale industrial fishing on non-target species and the effects of fishing on the marine environment.

Genetically Modified Crops

Alex Johnstone (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish crop sites now growing GM oil seed rape as a result of the contamination of Advanta rapeseed with GM rapeseed will be subject to the same controls as crop sites intentionally sown with GM rapeseed for the purposes of a licensed crop trial.

Ross Finnie: No. The sites which have been unintentionally contaminated by the Advanta rapeseed have not been issued with consents and as a consequence it would be illegal for the contaminated crops to be marketed. Where a consent has been issued for the growing of a GM crop for research purposes, the regulatory process attaches binding limitations and conditions. Each application is considered on a case-by-case basis and any controls would be specific to the individual site.

Genetically Modified Crops

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-7592 by Ross Finnie on 16 June 2000, (a) on what date, and by what method, the information was relayed to the Food and Agricultural Group of the Minister’s department, (b) on what date, and by what method, the Food and Agriculture Group asked officials of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) for further details, (c) by what method a response was elicited from MAFF and (d) at what stage the Minister was informed of the possible problem and of the full extent of the problem.

Ross Finnie: I have already made it perfectly clear that the first occasion on which the Scottish Executive was fully and properly informed of this problem was on 15 May. Between 5 May and that date my officials made enquiries of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to establish the facts.

National Parks

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what will be included in any guidance for public bodies regarding implications of the National Parks Bill, and what the implications of any such guidance will be for Gaelic bilingual signage and bilingual publications in national parks.

Sarah Boyack: The guidance to be issued to National Park authorities will include:

  Financial Memorandum and Management Statements governing financial, management and corporate planning matters;

  Guidance on the formulation of National Park Plans;

  Guidance on participation, consultation procedures over the whole of the authorities’ responsibilities;

  Guidance on commercial activity by National Park authorities;

  Guidance on the role of National Park authorities in preserving and enhancing the cultural heritage, including the promotion on Gaelic issues such as signage and bilingual publications as appropriate.

  Where National Park authorities undertake planning functions, national planning guidance will also apply to them.

New Deal

Nick Johnston (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive to detail, by constituency, the number of New Deal clients re-claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance after the end of their option, as a proportion of all individuals leaving the New Deal Scheme.

Henry McLeish: Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government which therefore takes the lead on the funding and delivery of New Deal throughout Great Britain, although in close consultation with its partners, including the Scottish Executive.

  New Deal clients who re-claim Jobseeker’s Allowance at the end of their option do not leave the New Deal but move to the follow-through stage which provides continued intensive help with job-search, building on their experience in the programme so far.

New Deal

Nick Johnston (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive to detail, by constituency, the number of subsidised and unsubsidised jobs created by (a) the New Deal for the Young Unemployed (New Deal 18-24), (b) the New Deal for the Long-term Unemployed (New Deal 25+), (c) the New Deal 50+ and (d) the New Deal for Single Parents, since the New Deal programme began in April 1998.

Henry McLeish: Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government which therefore takes the lead on the funding and delivery of New Deal throughout Great Britain, although in close consultation with its partners, including the Scottish Executive.

  Figures to the end of March 2000 are shown in the following table for the number of unsubsidised and subsidised jobs gained from the New Deal for Young People and the New Deal for the long-term unemployed aged 25+. The New Deal for Lone Parents programme does not include provision for subsidised employment therefore only unsubsidised jobs are shown. Figures on the New Deal 50+ by parliamentary constituency are not available.

  





New Deal for Young 
People


25+ New Deal


New Deal for Lone 
Parents







unsubsidised


subsidised


unsubsidised


subsidised


unsubsidised




Aberdeen Central


208


21


19


4


46




Aberdeen North


112


11


13


4


51




Aberdeen South


121


7


13


3


42




Airdrie & Shotts


477


44


100


12


81




Angus


363


73


63


20


60




Argyll & Bute


236


46


62


33


24




Ayr


333


52


60


30


50




Banff & Buchan


142


12


19


12


36




Caithness, Sutherland & Easter 
Ross


183


24


69


23


34




Carrick, Cumnock & Doon Valley


364


102


63


45


69




Central Fife


475


66


162


19


46




Clydebank & Milngavie


335


42


64


8


59




Clydesdale


372


70


71


6


71




Coatbridge & Chryston


353


57


48


9


42




Cumbernauld & Kilsyth


355


25


76


6


61




Cunninghame North


411


62


60


14


44




Cunninghame South


434


92


54


18


82




Dumbarton


450


44


65


16


74




Dumfries


318


56


53


12


31




Dundee East


563


118


67


41


122




Dundee West


527


125


49


35


86




Dunfermline East


377


41


217


0


51




Dunfermline West


290


13


157


4


49




East Kilbride


252


66


109


8


58




East Lothian


180


33


51


12


36




Eastwood


189


31


34


15


53




Edinburgh Central


195


20


38


9


54




Edinburgh East & Musselburgh


203


36


44


7


76




Edinburgh North & Leith


255


35


47


12


53




Edinburgh Pentlands


222


20


27


1


89




Edinburgh South


213


26


24


8


50




Edinburgh West


150


27


27


8


43




Falkirk East


335


63


98


1


71




Falkirk West


346


73


119


4


57




Galloway & Upper Nithsdale


215


87


38


36


26




Glasgow Anniesland


324


45


48


7


83




Glasgow Baillieston


391


58


31


7


89




Glasgow Cathcart


272


45


57


9


78




Glasgow Govan


307


48


44


12


68




Glasgow Kelvin


238


17


76


11


51




Glasgow Maryhill


384


41


83


12


55




Glasgow Pollok


366


44


56


9


73




Glasgow Rutherglen


300


49


121


16


66




Glasgow Shettleston


423


66


49


10


69




Glasgow Springburn


494


47


81


14


92




Gordon


105


11


11


4


19




Greenock & Inverclyde


295


25


27


3


61




Hamilton North & Bellshill


409


79


40


10


41




Hamilton South


318


76


32


9


55




Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber


215


29


37


21


59




Kilmarnock & Loudoun


410


92


53


34


53




Kirkcaldy


402


64


78


15


66




Linlithgow


262


22


20


7


55




Livingston


358


35


27


7


74




Midlothian


167


34


26


11


72




Moray


240


35


26


16


36




Motherwell & Wishaw


389


69


62


12


82




North East Fife


147


28


46


9


16




North Tayside


229


48


36


18


40




Ochil


315


48


105


3


64




Orkney & Shetland


64


22


27


7


9




Paisley North


343


45


68


8


71




Paisley South


366


30


48


12


78




Perth


263


63


37


22


57




Ross, Skye & Inverness West


220


46


81


34


56




Roxburgh & Berwickshire


198


48


22


8


37




Stirling


203


34


85


2


35




Strathkelvin & Bearsden


251


52


29


12


43




Tweeddale, Ettrick & Lauderdale


205


27


9


10


57




West Aberdeenshire & Kincardine


81


19


7


1


19




West Renfrewshire


216


17


25


5


28




Western Isles


90


39


106


33


21

New Deal

Nick Johnston (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive to detail, by constituency, the cost of subsidised and unsubsidised jobs created by (a) the New Deal for the Young Unemployed (New Deal 18-24), (b) the New Deal for the Long-term Unemployed (New Deal 25+), (c) the New Deal 50+ and (d) the New Deal for Single Parents, since the New Deal programme began in April 1998.

Henry McLeish: Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government which therefore takes the lead on the funding and delivery of New Deal throughout Great Britain, although in close consultation with its partners, including the Scottish Executive.

  The costs associated with subsidised and unsubsidised jobs are not available on a constituency basis.

Non-Governmental Organisations

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many non-governmental organisations it has (a) created, (b) announced or (c) proposed since May 1999 and which of these bodies will be located outwith the central belt of Scotland.

Mr Jack McConnell: None - by their very nature. By definition, non-governmental organisations are not created by the Scottish Executive.

Ports

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will financially support the Peterhead Bay Authority with the construction of a new outer breakwater.

Sarah Boyack: The Executive has no general scheme of assistance to ports and harbours throughout Scotland. Port and harbour authorities operate in a competitive market. They are responsible for making their own investment decisions and raising finance.

  Assistance may be available from the Executive for certain fishery-related harbour development and through European Funds in eligible areas.

Prison Service

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress the Scottish Prison Service is making in putting its general medical services out to tender.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Mr Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. Mr Cameron’s response is as follows:

  The responses to the SPS Service Operational Requirement are currently being evaluated.

Rail Network

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what direction and guidance it has given to the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority in respect of the proposed Bathgate to Airdrie rail link.

Sarah Boyack: Under the provisions made in the UK Transport Bill, introduced on 1 December 1999, the Scottish Ministers will be able to issue directions and guidance to the Strategic Rail Authority for passenger rail services that begin and end in Scotland. Since the Bill has not completed its passage through Parliament at Westminster, the Scottish Ministers are not yet able to exercise these powers. The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority on a wide range of matters affecting the development of the railways in Scotland.

Recycling

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken or plans to take to support the setting up of a newspaper recycling plant.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is currently investigating the feasibility of the establishment of a newspaper recycling plant in Scotland.

Rural Affairs

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what it plans to do to reverse the population decline in the Western Isles.

Ross Finnie: The Executive is committed to tackling the causes of population decline through initiatives targeted at rural communities across Scotland. In the Western Isles, the Executive supports economic development through Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Western Isles Enterprise. The range of specific measures taken by the Executive in the Western Isles include: support for the latest IT infrastructure; support for new businesses, and improving rural transport with substantial spending on infrastructure projects such as the Eriskay causeway. Wider programmes, such as Iomairt aig an Oir (the Initiative at the Edge) and grants for community land purchase, are also boosting the local economy and creating jobs.

Scottish Executive Staff

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many posts in the Scottish Executive, including its agencies, have been created in or transferred to each parliamentary constituency since 1 July 1999 and whether it will provide a detailed breakdown of these posts.

Mr Jack McConnell: The Executive’s policy on location and relocation of civil service jobs remains as set out by the First Minister in his answer of 15 September 1999 (question S1W-1558, Mr Duncan McNeil MSP). When opportunities arise, potential locations across Scotland will be considered on a case-by-case basis consistent with our objectives of efficiency and effectiveness.

  The information requested is not readily available by parliamentary constituency. However, between 1 April 1999 and 1 February 2000 the number of staff in post (full-time equivalent) in the Scottish Executive and its agencies rose by 307, including both new posts and filling of vacancies. Most of these staff are located in Edinburgh.

  Since 1 July 1999 there have been two significant transfers of posts from Edinburgh:

  

the Department 
of Enterprise and Lifelong Learning has transferred from Edinburgh 
to Glasgow, with some 160 posts;


the creation 
of the Food Standards Agency in Aberdeen, a non-Ministerial Government 
Department rather than part of the Executive itself, has led to 
the transfer of 35 posts from the Executive in Edinburgh and the 
creation of a further 15 new posts.

Stone Industry

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is proposing to do to regenerate the Scottish stone industry.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The Deputy Minister for Culture and Sport, Rhona Brankin officially launched the Scottish Stone Liaison Group (SSLG) as a Limited Company by Guarantee on 22 May 2000. A three-year Minute of Agreement is being negotiated by Historic Scotland to provide a basic level of diminishing core funding to assist the group. The SSLG will provide the focus and independence required to co-ordinate and develop the stone industry in Scotland both for conservation and new build.

Telecommunications

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in view of the Stewart Report, it intends to consider the introduction of retrospective planning procedures for mobile phone masts.

Sarah Boyack: We have no plans to introduce retrospective planning procedures for mobile phone masts.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of any representations or input which have been made and to whom in respect of the imposition of VAT on bridge tolls and what consideration it has given to the effect of this measure throughout Scotland.

Sarah Boyack: There has been ongoing liaison with the UK Government to ensure that the UK defence fully reflects the situation in Scotland.

  The decision of the European Court of Justice is not due until 12 September. The UK Government and the devolved administrations are at present considering the likely consequences if the court does not find in favour of the United Kingdom.

Transport

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed transportation hub for the Union Square area of Aberdeen should incorporate the city bus services.

Sarah Boyack: As the planning application is currently before the Scottish Ministers, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on any aspect of the proposals at this stage.

Whisky Industry

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the European Commission in relation to the Commission’s plans to reduce export refunds to the Scotch whisky industry.

Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food have made their concern, and those of the spirits industry, about this proposal very clear to the European Commission.

Whisky Industry

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has held with Her Majesty’s Government over the European Commission’s proposed reduction in export refunds to the Scotch whisky industry, in particular in relation to any power of veto Her Majesty’s Government may have in this matter.

Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government and the European Commission on this and other issues. The UK Government can oppose reductions in export refunds but has no power of veto.

Whisky Industry

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken any research into the effects on the agricultural industry of any reduction in European export refunds to the Scotch whisky industry and, if so, whether it will publish the findings.

Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food have been working closely with the spirits industry on the implications of potential reductions of export refunds with the aim of achieving the best outcome possible. The Scottish Executive has not undertaken its own research.